Vehicle-tire.



W. D. MONAULL. VEHICLE TIRE. APPLICATION FILED MAR, 23, 190B.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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W. D. MQNAULL. VEHICLE TIRE. APPLICATION Hum MAR. 22, 19oe V Patented Mar. 9, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WILLIAM D. MCNAULL, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

VE HICLE IIRE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Application filed March 23, 1908. Serial No. 422,622.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, W ILLIm-u D. Mo- NAULL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- 'lires; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the fig uresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to tires for vehicles, and its object is to furnish a tire which shall have the resiliency of pneumatic tires without their familiar disadvantages due to their first cost, the trouble and annoyance of inflating the same, their short life and liability to punctures, and other accidents. I attain this object by means of the construc tion and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side-elevation of part of a wheel provided with my device shown in section taken on line a"a Fig. 3; Fig. 2, a sectional plan-view of a part of the outer member of my tire taken on line ax-50, Fig. 3, and extended in a flat plane, and Fig. 3, a transverse sectional elevation of my de vice taken on line 1 g Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, 1 is the felly of a wheel. Upon the periphery of the telly is secured a metal rim 2, one margin of which .is turned to form an inwardly projecting flange, as at 3.

l-5 is a circinnferentially divided band, separated by a annular space 6 and fitted upon the periphery of the rim :2, the part at having at its outer margin an outwardly turned flange 7, the part 5 having at its outer margin an inwardly projecting flange 8 and an outwardl "Jro'ectin flan 'e 9. A

. l b a metal band 10 embraces the parts l-5 which are adjustable toward and away from each other between the rim 2 and the band 10 as hereinafter explained.

ll.l1 are rings which embrace the parts l-i"), the outer margin of these rings being turned or rounded as shown to form smooth bearing surfaces.

12 is a band or belt of india-rubber, of

I such circumference as to fit snugly the outer edges of the rings 11 and broad enough to form flanges which considerably overlap said rings. it will be seen that between the two rings 11-11 and the inner side of the band 12 and the outer side of the band 10 is an annular circumferential space or channel 13 of a depth corresponding with the width of the rings and allowing a considerable inward defiection of the hand 12. Surrounding the band 12 is another band 14,-, of rubber or other suitable flexible elastic material, arched transversely and having a pe ripheral bearing-portion 15 and marginal flanges 16. Projcctin inwardly from the transversely and circumferentially arched member 14- are flexible elastic protuberances illustrated in Fig. 2, and designed to furnish series of elastic cushions interposed between the elastic member 12 and the outer tire 14-. The parts 17 are of varying lengths, illus trated in Fig. 3, to accommodate them to the inner transverse curve of the outer tire l4, and they are also of varied transverse areas, as illustrated, proportioned to the radial pressures and transverse strains to which they are likely to be exposed. The marginal flanges of the parts 12-44 are turned inwardly and are disposed side by side and are clamped in position by means of clam nng screws passing through the flanges 7 9, through the flanges of the parts 12-l4, and engaging at their inner ends the rings 11. On tightening up the screws 20 it will be seen that the margins of the parts 12-14 are securely clamped between the flanges 79 and the rings 11 and in operative relation to the periphery of the wheel. The part a rigidly secured to the rim 2 l by means of screws 18. Passing through theflange 3 and abutting aga nstthe flange I 8 of the part 5 1s a series of ad uSting screws l9. l pon settin up the screws 19 the part I 5 is forced horizontally outwardly carrying l wit 1 it the clamping screws 20 and the ring 1.1 and the flexible flanges connected therewith, thus regulating and controlling the transverse tension of the parts 12 and 14L the opposite i'nargins of which are held stationary by their connection with the part 4. it will be seen that by removing the screws 18 the parts -il5 and the parts connected with or secured thereto may he slipped bodily sidewise oil from the wheel to facilitate I renewals, repairs, adjustments, or the like.

or lingers 17, arranged close together, as-

While I have shown a convenient and desirable means for securing the two elastic n'iembers 121& in operative relation to the wheel, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention to the devices designed for such purpose as here described, for, obviously, other methods of securing these members in place will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Although I have shown the tentacular members 17 as formed integral with the outer tire let it will be clear that notwithstanding this is the preferred form of construction, other means may be employed for retaining these members in proper relation to each other and to the outer tire and to the inner fleXible transverse bridge 12.

The parts being assembled as above described, it will be seen that the weight of the wheel and its vehicle will rest upon the bearing oortion 15 and that, while the margins of the parts 1214 are securely held against movement, the flexible outer tire and the interposed elastic cushions or fingers coacting with the transversely tensioned belt, together form an extremely elastic tire well adapted to take up jar and vibration and to serve substantially the same purpose as the cushions formed by a pneumatic tire.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a vehicle tire, an elastic belt sup-, ported at its margins and tensioned transversely, an outer circumferential tire-member, and radially disposed elastic fingers forming cushions interposed between the belt and the outer tire-member.

2. In a vehicle tire, a circumferential elastic belt, circumferential supports for the margins of the belt,-said supports having an annular channel therebetween,means for securing the margins of the belt at opposite sides of the channel, an outer transversely arched tire-member, and elastic fingers interposed as cushions between the outer member and the belt.

3. In a vehicle tirie, a. circumferential elastic belt, circumferential supports for the margins of the belt,said supports having an annular channel therebetween,an outer tire-member, elastic fingers interposed as cushions between the outer tire-member and the belt, means for securing the margins of the belt and of the outer member at opposite sides of said channel, and means for the lateral adjustment of the tension of the belt.

at. In a vehicle tire, a circumferential belt, cushions between the belt and the outer tiremember, and elastic fingers disposed as cushions between the belt and the outer tiremember, said fingers being of varying lengths to conform to said arch.

In a vehicle tire, a circumferential belt, a flexible transversely arched outer tiremember, and elastic fingers disposed as cushions between the two, said fingers being of varying lengths to conform to the arch and of decreasing cross-sectional area toward the sides of the tire.

6. In a device of the described character, an elastic belt, an outer circumferential tiremember, elastic fingers forming cushions interposed between the belt and the outer member, a flanged band, rings coincident with the flanges of said band, marginal flanges upon the elastic belt and upon the outer tiremember, and means for clamping said flanges of the belt and theouter tire-member between the rings and the flanges of the band.

7. In a device of the described character, an elastic belt, an outer circumferential tiremember. elastic fingers forming cushions interposed between the'belt and said tire-member, 'a circumferentially divided flanged band, rings coincident with the flanges of said band, marginal flanges upon the elastic belt and the outer tire-member, which flanges are secured between the flanges of said band and said rings, and means for ad justing and securing the parts of the divided band in separated relation.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

CLAYTON MURPHY, Ana E. CAMERON. 

